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Washington, DC to Invest $8 Billion into New Developments

More than 6,000 new hotel rooms to be added by 2013 and beyond.

(Washington, DC) – In a presidential election year, it may be easy to assume the only news coming out of Washington, DC is about politics, but the nation’s capital has a big story of its own to tell. Investments totaling more than $8 billion are transforming Washington, DC, creating massive new visitor-friendly developments in key areas – including the downtown core and the National Mall as well as DC’s 12 distinct neighborhoods. From construction of CityCenterDC and the Washington Marriott Marquis to redevelopment along the Capitol Riverfront and new monuments and museums, DC shows no signs of slowing down.

“Our city welcomes more than 17 million visitors each year who experience world-class hotels, celebrity chef-helmed restaurants and exciting museums and attractions,” said Elliott Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC. “Tourism helps DC’s economy thrive and so it is fitting that Washington, DC should be reinvesting in its products, neighborhoods and amenities.”

Major developments include:

CityCenterDC will open in phases beginning in 2013. Located in the heart of downtown, its opening will introduce more hotel, dining, shopping and nightlife options to the neighborhood than ever before.

The Washington Marriott Marquis is scheduled to open in 2014 with 1,175 rooms and more than 100,000 square feet of prime meeting space connected to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, expanding meeting capacity in the nation’s capital significantly.

Capitol Riverfront is quickly becoming one of DC’s most buzzed-about entertainment districts. Already home to the Washington Nationals’ Park, the five million-square-foot development project is also set to include a hotel, restaurants, a craft brewery, retail and residential components.

The H Street corridor street cars in Northeast DC will connect retail, restaurants, offices and attractions on one of the city’s trendiest streets.

The Howard Theatre, once the center of African American entertainment in DC, returns to its former glory this spring with a multi-million dollar restoration. The historic landmark launched the careers of Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Marvin Gaye and once again will be a venue for ground-breaking performances and events.

The new Center for Education and Leadership at Ford’s Theatre explores Civil War history and the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln, one of America’s most important presidents. The permanent and rotating exhibits at the Center complement the existing Ford’s Theatre museums.

The new Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument, which opened last fall, is the first to honor a non-president and an African American. The new monument is located along the Tidal Basin between the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial.

Ranked number one among all museum destinations in the world, DC continues to expand its cultural offerings. The Smithsonian will add a 16th museum to its DC collection in 2015. The National Museum of African American History and Culture will focus on how African American history has helped shape the nation.

For more information or to plan your visit to Washington, DC, please visit www.washington.org.

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About Destination DC: Destination DC, the lead destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, is a private, non-profit membership organization of more than 800 businesses committed to marketing the area as a premier global convention, tourism and special events destination with a special emphasis on the arts, cultural and historic communities. Destinationdc.com.